Lid brace



Aug. 27, 1940. R. F. DE BOER Er AL 2,212,977

I LID BRACE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 15, 1957 :Edwgfd Camisa@ HOY dames exo "Ywk l M Aug. 27, 1940.

R. F. DE BOER El' AL LID BRACE Filed sept. 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wd dph Levokom dam Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.v l

v l 2,212,977 v LID BRAGE Rudolph V1r. De Boer, Edward cinese, ana- James v Leroy Flora, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to Applied Arts Corporation, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application september 15, 1937, serial No. 163,940

9 Claims.

y ing or holding brace of the character to be described is usable.

l An object of the invention is to provide a brace which when extended to support the lid or cover will not accidentally fold and permit the cover to drop, and which, in the operation of lifting the cover or lid is sure and certain in its action. With our invention when the cover is moved to open position and the brace is straightened out to bracing position it automatically locks and cane not be folded until the cover is moved upwardly tothereby extend the partsof the brace and 11n-'1 lock the joint between said parts, whereupon a downward movement of theV cover will automatically cause the brace to fold and permit the cover to take its closed position.

vA further object of the invention is to provideY a brace of the character stated which vis strong and durable, easily manufactured and assembled, is capable of withstanding severe use and which may be installed in conjunction with the body of an automobile and the cover-or lid of a trunk or luggage space without any particular nicetyfin positioning and attaching the parts of the brace:

to said automobile body and cover,` all of whic will be hereafter more fully described.

jAn understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig.` 1 is a sectional and somewhat diagram'' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged elevation ofthe brace illustrating the same in the position which it takes when folded.

upper position and immediately prior to the locking of the brace. y

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the u completion of the movement by means of which Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the joint of the. brace when the cover has been lifted to extreme the two brace parts are locked against folding at the jointed connection thereof.

Fig. 6 is a like View -similar to Figs. 4 and'5 illustrating the position of the parts of the brace upon the initiation of the closing movement of the cover or lid to which it is applied, the lid having been'liftedt unlock the joint Vpreparatory for folding movement. j 1

Fig. 7 is a similar View showing the immediately. succeeding movement and, the position whichy the parts of the brace take'upon starting downward movement of the lid or cover after it has been previouslyA lifted. Y Y Fig. 8 is ay similar `view showingthe brace in the act of being folded to lower the lid or cover to closed position,` andl y Y Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the folded brace joint when the lid or cover is in closed position.

Like reference characters refer to like parts the dierent figures of the drawings.

The rear part of an automobile body indicated at AI is shown as having a hinged cover 2 over the luggage compartment which may be lifted to the dotted line position shown for access to said com-V partment. The brace includes what may be termed an upper bar 3 and a lower bar.4 jointed together at theiradjacent ends and adapted to be attached respectively to the lid and to the body, the upper end of the upper bar 3 having a pivoted connection to a bracket 5 which is secured to the underside of the lid `or cover 2v andthe lower end of the lower bar 4 pivotally connected to the body of the automobile. WhileV the illustration in Fig. 1 shows the invention applied to the luggage compartment coverv in an automobile body of the coupe type. it is evident that the same brace is adapted to be used in conjunction with the trunk and the trunk cover or lid in automobile bodies of the sedan or coach type; vand while the bar 3 has been shown as attached to the lid 2 and bar 4 to the body, the position of the brace may be reversed so that the lower bar 4 may be the upper bar and the upper bar 3 the lower bar, the operation notbeingr aifected. It is also immaterial at what particular location the brace is connected to the lid or'cover and the body, as the brace functions when it is pulled to a substantially straight position and it is .only necessary to have the proportions and points of attachment such that when the brace is straightened out to the position shown in Fig. 2 the cover will have been opened to the desired extent.

The end of the bar 4` which is connected with.

the adjacent end of the bar 3 is enlarged laterally as indicated at 6 into arc-shape or substantially semi-circular form having a curved edge 'I which at its upper side joins with a short downwardly extending slot 8 as shown. A projection extends above the upper part of the curved edge 'I at the opposite side of slot 8 and one side I0 thereof provides a side of the slot 8 extending above the upper end of the slot. A vertical slot I I is made in the enlarged portion 6. The bars 3 and 4 are pivotally joined together by a pin I2 which passes through the slot I I, and at the end where the pin passes through the bar 3 it is preferably square in cross section so that the pivot pin must turn with the bar 3. When the pivot pin I2 is substantially at the upper end of the slot I I, the arc-shaped edge 7 is substantially the arc of a circle the center of which is the axis of the pin I2, as shown in Fig. 4.

The pin I 2 is vequipped with a disk-like head I3 which lies along the outer side of the enlarged portion 6. Said disk at one si-de is recessed, as at I4, the recess having sides at right angles to each other and so located with respect to the pin that when the brace is in its straight unfolded position the longer side of the recess is substantially vertical and the shorter side horizontal as in Fig. 4, thereby providing a projecting lip I5'on the head I3 as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

A pin I6 is connected with the brace 3 and between its ends has a collar I'I of larger diameter, the inner side of which is spaced from the bar 3 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the' bar 4. The pin ls is so mated that when the pivot pin I2 is ashort distance below the upper end of the slot II the pin rides upon the curved edge 'I of the enlarged part 6 of bar 4.

An irregularly shaped dog I8 similar to a bell crank is pivotally mounted, on a pivot pin IS on the bar 4 toone side of the slot II. A pin 20 projects from the angle or elbow portion of the dog I8 and between it and the free end of pin I6 a coiled tension spring 2| is installed. At the edge of Athe dog adjacent the notched or recessed disk I3. a recess 22 is made in the dog below which is a projecting nger 23 which extends below the head` I3. At the opposite and upper end ofthe dog and at` its inner edge is a short shoulder 24 from which an edge 25 extendsdownwardly at an angle providing a tooth 28 at its juncture with the upper end of the recess 22. The upper end of the dog has an arc-shaped surface 21 the radius of curvature of which extends therefrom to the axis of the pivot pin I9.

When the lid or cover is closed the parts take the position shown in either Figs. 3 or 9. The spring 2I is under tension and the force of the spring tends to turn the dog `I8 in a clockwise direction bringing the finger 23 against the underside of the head I3. When the lid or cover is raised the arm 3 turns about the axis of the pin I2, the pin I8 riding against the curved edge 'I until it comes to the upper end of the slot 8, or to the positionshown in Fig. 4. The recessed head I3 turns with the brace bar 3 and the pin comes against the shoulder or edgey III of the part 9, stopping the movementof the bar 3, and is thereupon in a position for the pin to move downwardly into slot 8.

In this position the brace is designed so that the pivotal connection by the Vpin I2 of the two bars and the respective pivotal 'connection of the bars with the body and the lid are in alinement, or in other words, the brace has become straightened as far as possible which limits the opening movement of the lid. When the weight of the lid is released it will cause the pin I8 to enter the slot 8 which locks the parts in alined position and prevents them from folding.

At the same time the pin I6 enters the slot 8 the pin I2 travels downwardly in the slot II and a head I3 pushes on the nger 23 moving the dog I8 about its pivot to the position shown in Fig. 5 wherein the shoulder 24 engages the collar I'I of the pin I6. During this swinging movement of the dog I8 the axis of the spring 2I has been swung past the axis of the pivot I9 of the dog and exerts its power to move the end 2'I of the dog toward the pin I6.

It will be noted that when the parts of the brace are extended as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the spring 2I has a tendency to move the pin I8 downwardiy into the slot 8 and also tends to hold the pin I5 against the shoulder I0. In other words, the tendency of this spring'is to retain the parts in straight line position and to move the pin I6 into the slot to locked position.l Thisy action of the spring obviates any tendency on the parts to fold when the weight of the lid is released and exerted against the brace so that there is no possibility of the parts failing to become locked when the lid is released. ,l

In such position of `the brace lit is locked securely against folding movement, The spring 2I' which is stretched in the unfolding of the brace is still stretched to a considerable degree whenv the pin II has entered the slot 8, holding such pin in the slot against accidental movement. The brace can be unlocked onlyv by `bodily upward movement of the bar 3. In such operative position of the brace wherein it holds the cover in open position a straight line may be drawn through the axis of the pin I2 and of the end pivots of the bars 3 andy 4 where they are connected, respectively, to the cover or lid and the automobile body. Any downward pressure on the cover or lid is transmitted asa straight line pressure through the several pivots and such pressure has no appreciable eilect tending to fold the brace. It will further be noted that in the change of position of the dog I8 from that shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, the li'n'el of force of the spring 2| has crossed the pivotal axis of the pivot I9 so that while the spring tends to turn the dog in a clockwise direction in Fig. 4, it tends to turn it in the opposite or counterclockwise direction in Fig. 5.

To unlock the brace and lower the cover or li`d it is necessary merely to grasp the free rear edge of the lid 2 and lift it upwardly, whereupon the bar 33 is elevated carrying the pin I6 with'itY and raising the pivot pin I2 to the upper' end of the slot II as in Fig. 6. At this extreme position of the bar 3 the collarv I'I is carried high" enough that the dog I8 may turn farther Iin a counterclockwise direction and bring the upper end surface 21 thereof underneath the collar so that should the cover then bereleased, the brace will not again assume alocked positionA being held in unlocked position, as in Fig. 6, by the dog I8; With this movement of rthe dog I8 the tooth at 26 enters the recess I4 of the head I3 and at its lower side bears against the upper side of the projection I5. This then transfers momentarily the point of pivotal movement of the joint of thel brace from the pin I2 to pin I9, so that there is a broken toggle in effect produced yfrom the pivot of the upper end of the bar 3' to-theaxis of the pivot I9 and thence to the pivot' atthelower' end of the bar 4. The pressure of the weight of the lid under such conditions causes the bar 3 to turn about the axis of the pin I9 and thereby carry the pin I6 from a position directly above the slot 8 over to the curved edge I of the enlarged part 6 during which it rests on the upper end surface of dog I8. At the time the pivot pin I2 between the bars 3 and 4 drops a short distance in the slot II, the vhead I3 turns with the turning movement of the bar 3 and with a continued downward movement of the cover or lid with which the brace is associated, the projection I5 turning in a counterclockwise direction acts to turn the dog I8 in a clockwise direction about its pivot I9, moving thev upper end of the dog away from the pin I8 which continues to ride upon the edge I against the bars. This `continued movement is illustrated in Fig. 8 and continues until the brace is fully folded or is in the position shown in Figs. 3 or 9.

It will be evident that with the parts shown in Fig. 7 and with the brace bar 3 at the initiation of its folding movement the snapping of the dog I8 from the position shown in Fig. 7 where it engages with the collar Il' kon pin I6 to its extreme other position, as in Fig. 8, occurs earlier than it would otherwise because of the positive movement imparted to the dog bythe turning of the head I3. When the dog has moved from the position of Fig. 'l to that of Fig. 8, this occurring when the lid or cover 2 has been lowered but a short distance, if for any reason it is desired to return the lid or cover to its upper open position it may be done without closing the cover, it not being necessary to lower the lid to fully closed position as is true in many other types of trunk or luggage cover braces, before again fully opening it.

This construction of folding brace is one which may be very readily produced in quantity and at low cost. Its operation is sure and positive. The brace automatically locks when it is drawn to position the pivotal means of the bars in a straight line in which position there is no tendency of the brace to fold from any pressure which may be placed upon the lid or cover. Furthermore, in the operation of operating the lid the riding of the pin I6 on the curved edge 1 can put the pivot pin I2 in a position such that the upper end of the dog I8 cannot come underneath the collar I'I and there is insurance of a positive locking of the brace by the entry of the pin I8 into the slot 8, no matter under what conditions the lid may be lifted, whether lifted relatively slowly and quietly or jerked upward with considerable violence.

The construction is very practical and useful and has so proved in practical and commercial use.v The invention is dened in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

We claim:

1. A brace comprising two elongated members, one of said members having a slot therein and a recess at an edge thereof, a pivot pin in the opposite member extending through said slot whereby the members are pivotally and movably connected together, a second pin on said opposite member adapted to enter said recess when the members are open and in substantial alinement thereby locking said members against pivotal movement, a dog mounted on the slotted member, and a spring connected to said dog and so arranged that the dog will engage under said last mentioned pin when said members are longitudinally moved to disengage the pin from the recess and carry the pin away from said recess on initiation of folding movementl of said members with respect to each other.

2. A jointed brace comprising two members, the rst of said members having a lateral enlargement with a curved vedge with a slot in the body of said enlargement and a recess in the curved edge in substantial alinement with said slot, a pivot pin carried by the second member extending through said slot, a second pin carried by the second member adapted to be moved into conjunction with said recess and be received therein to lock the members against folding when in substantial alinement with each other, a head on the pivot pin having a recess-in one side, a dog pivotally mounted on the rst member recessed at one side for. the reception of the adjacent side of said head and having a finger extending alongside of said head at one side of the recess and a spring connected with the dog and with the second of said pins said dog above the recess therein having a tooth adapted to be received in thevrecess of said head on the pivot pin, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. A brace of the class described comprising, an elongated dat bar having a. laterally extending enlargement at its upper end, said enlargement having an edge curved in the arc of a circle and also having a vertical slot therein, a second elongated bar, a pivot pin fixed thereon extending through said slot, the axis of said pivot pin when said pin is substantially at the upper end of said slot coinciding with the center of said arc-shaped edge of said enlargement, said enlargement above said slot having a vertical recess therein, a second pin connected to the second mentioned bar and adapted to ride upon the curved edge of said enlargement to said recess, a dog pivotally mounted on the first bar at one side of the slot therein, a third pin extending from the dog, a coiled tension spring connected at its ends to the second and third mentioned pins, a circular head on the pivot pin in the same vertical plane with said dog and yhaving a recess in one side, said dog being recessed in its adjacent side having a finger extending below said head and a projection extending above the recess in said head, the location of the pin onthe dog being such that upon longitudinal movement of said bars to seat said secondI pin in said recess in the enlargement on the rst bar, said head engaging the nger on the dog turns said dog to a po-sition whereby oniongitudinal movementl of the bars to disengage the second pin from the recess the upper end of the dog interposes in the path of movement of said second pin and prevents its reentry into the recess.

4. A brace comprising two bars pivotally and longitudinally movably connected together at adjacent ends, one of said bars having a pin receiving recess therein, a pin on the second of said bars adapted to enter said recess when the bars are open and in substantial alinement to lock said bars against relative movement, said pin being drawn out of said recess on longitudinal movement of the bars in the opposite direction, means mounted on the first of said bars normally held at an inoperative position when the bars are moved from folded to locked position, and means on the other of said bars adapted to move said rst mentioned means into a position beneath said pin to prevent the reentry of the pin into the recess after it has been withdrawn therefrom.

5. In combination, a receptacle open at its upper side, a cover hinged thereto at one edge to close the open upper side of the receptacle, a folding brace between said receptacle and cover including two bars, the upper end of one of said bars being pivotally connected to the lid and the lower end of the other bar pivotally connected to the receptacle, one of said bars having a slot and the other of said bars having a pivot pin passing through said slot at the adjacent ends of the bars and said slotted bar also having a pin receiving recess in an edge thereof, a second pin on the other bar adapted to enter said recess when the lid has been lifted to move said bars into substantial alinement with each other, a pivotally mounted dog on said slotted bar, spring means acting on said dog, and means on said pivot pin acting on said dog to turn the same to a position when said second pin enters said recess whereby the spring will draw the dog into position with reference to said pin receiving recess such that upon longitudinal movement of said bars with respect to each other on lifting the lid said second pin is held from reentry into said recess, and said lid thereupon must be lowered and cannot again be relocked in open position until after it has been lowered a` predetermined distance.

6. A brace comprising two elongated members pivotally and siidabiy connected together, one of said members having a recess therein, a pin on the other member adapted to enter said recess when said members are open and in substantial alinement to lock said members against relative movement, a dog pivotally mounted on said recessed member, and spring means connecting said dog with said pin and so arranged that a portion of said dog will be moved beneath said pin after its removal from the recess to maintain said members in unlocked relation.

7. The combination of elements dened in claim 6, combined with a lateral enlargement on said recessed member adapted to constantly envgage said pin during the opening and closing movements of said members, for the purpose described.

8. A brace comprising two bars one having a slot at one end thereof and the other having a pin thereon passing through said slot whereby the bars are pivotally connected together and have a. limited movement with respect to each other within the limits prescribed by said pivot pin and slot, said slotted bar also having a pin receiving recess at an edge thereof, a second pin on the second bar adapted to enter said recess to lock the bars against folding movement when the same are open and in substantial alinement, a member pivotally mounted on the first bar adapted to have operative and inoperative positions, its operative position being under said second pin after the removal of said pin from said recess to prevent its reentry thereinto, and its inoperative position being such as to permit the entry of said second pin into the recess, and spring means so arranged with respect to said member as to hold same in either its operative .0r inoperative position.

9. A brace comprising two bars pivotally connected and movable longitudinally with respect to each other, a laterally enlarged portion at one end of one ofsaid bars having a recess therein, a pin attached to and extending from the other of said bars adapted to be moved into said recess to prevent relative movement of said bars, means to maintain said pin in Contact with the edge of said enlarged portion during movement to and from said recess, a lever pivotally mounted on one of said bars, and spring means coacting with said lever and so arranged that the lever will be moved under said pin upon its removal from said recess to prevent its reentry thereinto, for the purposes described.

RUDOLPH F. DE BOER. EDWARD GILLISSE. JAMES LEROY FLORA. 

